#StationsDay celebrates landmark investment in Kent’s train stations

Kent is today showcasing the newly upgraded Snodland station to mark the first ever #StationsDay, a day which celebrates the £5.2billion investment to regenerate Britain’s rail stations.

This is the first of hundreds of small and medium sized stations that have been improved across the UK since 2009.

A further £54 million of private and public investment from the railway is being spent to improve another 178 stations by the end of 2019.

In Snodland, National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) rail improvements have meant that passenger numbers have increased by around 30% as it helped to improve the connectivity between the town centre and station.

Station investment is a central part of the rail industry’s long-term plan to change and improve.

The unprecedented plan details billions of pounds of private and public investment into the railway and includes commitments to spread opportunity and boost local communities.

Working in partnership as one railway, this plan is transforming stations into vibrant community hubs and maximising the economic benefits that the railway delivers for Kent.

Robert Nisbet, Regional Director of the Rail Delivery Group which represents the rail industry, said,

“Stations are the beating hearts of local communities. Working together in partnership, the rail industry is delivering unprecedented investment to improve these stations as part of our long-term plan to change and improve.”

Rail Minister Jo Johnson said,

“This government is investing in the most significant upgrade of the UK rail network since Victorian times, spending over £48bn over the next five years to upgrade and build brand new stations across the network.

“This is delivering huge benefits for passengers at major stations including Liverpool Lime Street, London Bridge and Derby, as well as investment in five new stations. In July we also announced that we will invest £300m up to 2024 to improve access at selected stations, ensuring our rail network is open to everyone.”